New package being worked out for Kashmiri migrants: Govt

Keeping "past experience" in mind,a new package for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants is being "carefully" finalised in consultation with the state government and the representatives of the displaced people, home minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday.

He noted that the Centre had earmarked Rs 500 crore in this year's budget for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants but a revised proposal had been subsequently received from the state government envisaging financial implication of Rs 5,820 crore.

Responding to a calling attention motion, Singh asserted that the government will not rest till it ensures return and rehabilitation of the Kashmiri migrants and wanted Parliament to adopt a resolution to endorse this commitment.

"Whenever we make a commitment, we do so after giving a full thought and strong conviction. Whether is Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Parsi, no one will be a refugee in his own land," the home minister said.

While referring to the provision of Rs 500 crore for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, he said, revised proposal with financial implication of Rs 5,820 crore has since been received from the Jammu and Kashmir government, envisaging upward revision of the existing PM's package of 2008.

"In view of the past experience, it has been felt that the new package for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants should be carefully finalised in consultation with the state government and the representatives of the migrants. Our government has already started the process of drawing the contours of the scheme," Singh said.He, however, did not elaborate on his contention about the "past experience".

At present, a total of 60,452 families of Kashmiri migrants are registered in the country, of which 38,119 are in Jammu, 19,338 in Delhi and 1,995 in other states.

The home minister rejected any link between participation of Kashmiri Pandits in the controversial Kausar Nag Yatra and their rehabilitation.